CQ August 2013 - On the CoverHam radio was “one of those things
on my ‘bucket list’ to do,” says Philip
Cauffman, KB3MAW, of Elverson,
Pennsylvania, adding, “I just did it.”
Cauffman says he was always interested
in amateur radio and finally got
around to becoming a ham about
seven years ago. It was his ex-fatherin-
law, who’s also a ham, says Philip,
who “really got me going,” and gave
him a Kenwood TS-440 (since replaced
by a Yaesu FT-920) to get
started. “We’re still very good friends,”
he notes.Cauffman says his main operating
interest is 20-meter DXing, along with
6 meters (when it’s open) and VHF
nets for his local club, the Mid-Atlantic
Amateur Radio Club. Philip says he’s
confirmed nearly 150 countries with
the Alpha Delta DXCC dipole strung
from his 35-foot tower, which also supports
Cushcraft beams for 6 meters,
2 meters and 70 centimeters, and a
separate 80-meter dipole. “Ham radio
has exceeded my expectations,” he
added. “I’ve talked to people all over
the world and love every minute of it.
I’ve had no bad experiences.”Outside of ham radio, Cauffman is
a sawdust broker, selling sawdust to
horse farms. “I do it all,” he explains,
from finding new accounts to loading
and unloading trucks. He also feels a
responsibility to educate the next generation
of hams, noting that “educating
young people is the key to keeping
the hobby active.” (Cover photo by
Larry Mulvehill, WB2ZPI)